Las Vegas Calls For Blood, Cash Donations in Shooting Wake

People wait in line at United Blood Services to donate blood for the victims of the Route 91 Harvest country music festival, October 2, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Stephen Paddock, 64, of Mesquite, Nevada allegedly opened fire on festival attendees from his room in the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino leaving at least 58 dead and over 500 injured before reportedly killing himself. (Photo by Denise Truscello/Getty Images)

LAS VEGAS (KXNT) – Las Vegas authorities are calling for blood and cash donations in the wake of a mass shooting that injured more than 500 people and nearly 60 at a country music concert Sunday night.

United Blood Services began taking donations at 7 a.m. Monday at two locations: 6930 W. Charleston in Las Vegas or 601 Whitney Ranch Drive in Henderson.

University Medical Center is also hosting a blood drive Monday in conjunction with United Blood Services. It will be held at UMC’s Delta Point Building located at 901 N. Rancho Lane.

With massive lines at most locations and overwhelming responses early Monday, UBS was recommending those looking to donate call ahead and schedule an appointment.

During an afternoon news conference, Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo said waits to donate were reaching 6 to 8 hours, with most appointments already booked up into Thursday or Friday.

Priority would be given to donors with the universal O-negative blood type, although all donations were welcomed, United Blood Services spokeswoman She Thew told the Mercedes in the Morning program on KMXB.

Lyft is also offering free rides to anyone who needs help in the wake of this tragedy to blood donation services, hospitals, and the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Las Vegas police said Monday that it will take time to identify all of the injured and dead in what was the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history.

The number to report missing people is (866) 535-5654. Police have also opened a “family reunification center” for people to find loved ones at 400 S. Martin L. King Blvd., in Building B.

Meanwhile, family members handling the grim task of identifying loved ones killed in the attack were asked to go to a family assistance center established by the Clark County Coroner’s Office.

The 24-hour center is located in Exhibit Hall S-2 of the Las Vegas Convention Center, Coroner John Fudenberg said. It was expected to remain open until further notice.

“Our goal in setting up the Family Assistance Center is to provide support and comfort to family members, and at the same time gather the information we need to ensure victims of this terrible incident are properly identified,” Fudenberg said in a statement. “This is a tragic incident and our condolences go out to everyone involved.”

Anyone seeking to find a loved one still unaccounted for following the attack was urged to call the emergency call center. Callers in Las Vegas or throughout the rest of Nevada can file a report by dialing 211. Any out-of-state callers were asked to call (886) 535-5654.

Las Vegas–based medical flight charity Miracle Flights will provide free commercial airline flights to the families of those who were lost or injured at the Route 91 Harvest Festival. Plane tickets will be provided at no cost to the victims’ families, from anywhere in the country to Las Vegas.

“Though we typically fly patients for medical reasons, our overall goal as an organization is to alleviate the financial burden of travel for families in crisis, and this fits within that mission,” Miracle Flights CEO Mark E. Brown said.

Families can get more information or speak to a flight coordinator by contacting Miracle Flights at 800-359-1711.

Free hotel rooms and short-stay apartments have also been made available for those coming to Las Vegas dealing with a loved one’s injuries or death, Lombardo said. Properties belonging to Boyd Group (the Orleans, Aliante, Gold Coast, Sun Coast, Sam’s Town), Station Casinos (Palace Station, Sunset Station, Texas Station, the Palms, Red Rock), Southpoint Hotel and Siegel Suites were participating in that effort.

Clark County Commission Chair from Las Vegas Steve Sisolak started a Las Vegas Victims Fund page on GoFundMe, raising money to help the victims of the shooting. As of noon Tuesday, the fund had already generated over 52,000 donations, amounting to $3.7 million. Its initial $1 million goal was raised to $4.5 million.

Funds will be used to provide relief and financial support to the victims and families, Sisolak said.